Technoglitch
Core Member
One possible contender to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on the US Supreme Court is an Indian-American appeals court judge, Sri Srinivasan, who has pro-business credentials and a stellar resume.
If he was nominated his background may make it more politically challenging for Republicans as they plan to block anyone put forward by President Barack Obama.
Srinivasan, 48, has served on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since he was confirmed on a 97-0 bipartisan vote in the US Senate in May 2013. Republican senators who supported him then would likely be asked to justify why they couldn't back him for the Supreme Court.
Many names are likely under consideration and the White House has not tipped its hand, but recent Supreme Court appointments have tended to be appeals court judges and the appeals court in Washington on which Srinivasan serves has often been a springboard to the high court. Scalia himself served on the court, as did other Supreme Court members Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
In private practice, prior to his appointment to the appeals court, Srinivasan successfully represented former Enron Corp CEO Jeff Skilling in a Supreme Court case. The Supreme Court narrowed the reach of the so-called honest services fraud law, invalidating one theory used by prosecutors for Skilling's conspiracy conviction and ordering further appeals court review. Despite the high court ruling, Skilling's conviction was later upheld by an appeals court.
Srinivasan also represented Exxon Mobil Corp in a lawsuit alleging human rights abuses in Indonesia, and mining giant Rio Tinto in a similar case about its activities in Papua New Guinea. Both cases concerned in part whether a law called the Alien Tort Statute allows such cases to be heard in US courts. The Exxon case is still ongoing. The Rio Tinto lawsuit was dismissed.
His work during two stints with the O'Melveny and Myers law firm prompted expressions of concern from liberal groups and unions that normally back Democratic judicial nominations when he was nominated to the appeals court in 2012.
US Supreme Court Judge Scalia's replacement: Sri Srinivasan, Obama-nominated Indian-American could challenge Republicans - Firstpost
If he was nominated his background may make it more politically challenging for Republicans as they plan to block anyone put forward by President Barack Obama.
Srinivasan, 48, has served on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since he was confirmed on a 97-0 bipartisan vote in the US Senate in May 2013. Republican senators who supported him then would likely be asked to justify why they couldn't back him for the Supreme Court.
Many names are likely under consideration and the White House has not tipped its hand, but recent Supreme Court appointments have tended to be appeals court judges and the appeals court in Washington on which Srinivasan serves has often been a springboard to the high court. Scalia himself served on the court, as did other Supreme Court members Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
In private practice, prior to his appointment to the appeals court, Srinivasan successfully represented former Enron Corp CEO Jeff Skilling in a Supreme Court case. The Supreme Court narrowed the reach of the so-called honest services fraud law, invalidating one theory used by prosecutors for Skilling's conspiracy conviction and ordering further appeals court review. Despite the high court ruling, Skilling's conviction was later upheld by an appeals court.
Srinivasan also represented Exxon Mobil Corp in a lawsuit alleging human rights abuses in Indonesia, and mining giant Rio Tinto in a similar case about its activities in Papua New Guinea. Both cases concerned in part whether a law called the Alien Tort Statute allows such cases to be heard in US courts. The Exxon case is still ongoing. The Rio Tinto lawsuit was dismissed.
His work during two stints with the O'Melveny and Myers law firm prompted expressions of concern from liberal groups and unions that normally back Democratic judicial nominations when he was nominated to the appeals court in 2012.
US Supreme Court Judge Scalia's replacement: Sri Srinivasan, Obama-nominated Indian-American could challenge Republicans - Firstpost